Cancer Council Queensland has compiled an "atlas of cancer" that shows people are more likely to die of the disease if they live outside the south-east corner of the state.

The report estimates 1,200 lives could have been saved in the past decade if regional areas had the same survival rate as the Brisbane region.

Experts say it is a pattern that is repeated across the country.

Council spokeswoman Professor Joanne Aitken says the figures are staggering.

"We know that if all Queensland shared in the same average cancer rates that we have here in south-east Queensland, we would have saved, we estimate, at least 1,200 lives over the past 10 years," she said.

"So that is 1,200 people that have died because cancer rates or survival rates were lower in the bush than they are in the city."

Professor Aitken says it is a similar story in Australia and right across the world.

"This sort of pattern where disadvantaged areas, areas further from the city, tend to have lower survival rates and also higher cancer rates where screening isn't as effective. It is important that we see this not as being a unique Queensland problem," she said.

She says there are several reasons for the results.

"Partly it is because of distance, access to services, access to diagnostic and treatment services, of course," she said.

"It is also partly because of behavioural factors. We know that smoking rates are higher in the country, as are rates of obesity."

Rural Doctors Association of Queensland president Dr Dan Halliday says there is no quick fix for the problem but governments have to try.

"Certainly we'd like to see an increased focus on relationships between the public and private health sectors to try and improve the communication lines," he said.

"Of course, within that we need to see more funding to supporting medical practitioners to establish and maintain rural practices in rural areas."

Dr Halliday says a boost in doctor numbers will also help.

"More doctors on the ground, more health services. Obviously we are looking at nurses and support staff," he said.

"I know that some people are calling for further funding for support groups and certainly it has been shown that when people have access to support around them, they will fare better."

Subsidies

Subsidies are available for people who have to travel to receive medical treatment.

The Queensland Government offers $30 a night for accommodation and 15 cents for each kilometre travelled.

But Dr Halliday says the subsidy scheme is inadequate and needs to be overhauled.

"In the interim, we should look at increasing the subsidies paid for petrol for travel and accommodation if they can't have the services required provided in their local or regional areas," he said.

Professor Aitken says solving the problem will be a collaborative effort.

"The main thing is to have the facts in front of us," she said.

"We now know what those facts are. We've got clarity exactly what the situation is in the state. We know where we need to do some work to find out the reasons and then to address these problems."